The Arizona Cardinals might be about to endure one of the worst seasons in the history of the NFL when football resumes this September. They are in full rebuild mode, and that's just the beginning.
Their franchise quarterback and best player, Kyler Murray, had a serious injury last year that ended his season which will also likely keep him sidelined for a large portion of 2023.
This leaves fantasy football managers wondering about one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. When will Murray return? Will he play this year? Let's dive in.
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Kyler Murray Injury Update for Fantasy Football
When their franchise QB went down with a torn ACL last December, there was instant certainty from the Cardinals organization that he would not be ready to start the 2023 season. Not only is he not ready to make a return to the field, there are major question marks about whether or not he will even play this year.
Should he? Believe it or not, I'm not so sure. The Cardinals have already made it crystal clear that they are not trying to win football games this season, so why rush back the face of the franchise?
Since the uber-talented signal-caller is on the PUP list, he is required to miss at least the first four games of the season. He could make his return in Week 5, but again, there is no reason for urgency on a team that is headed nowhere. The earliest possible date he could play again in the NFL is October 8th, however, when asked by reporters in July when he might return, his answer was " I don't know, I've never been in this situation before."
Is Kyler Murray A Valuable Fantasy Football Player In 2023?
If you're a risk taker, or you play in a Superflex league with two quarterbacks on your roster, there is no reason you shouldn't pick up Murray as a speculative add. If you haven't had your draft yet, and he is available towards the end, grab him and stash him on your injured list.
When healthy, Murray has proven to be one of the most electric playmakers in the entire NFL and certainly can add major value to your fantasy team. His ability to scramble and make plays both through the air and on the ground is special, and when at his best, he's tough to stop.
The problem is, that he is coming off the worst possible injury a quarterback who relies so heavily on his legs could have. There is no way to know how he will perform upon returning, and in all likelihood, it will take some time for Murray to become the player we all know and love. Athletes who have had torn ACLs usually take up to one full year to get back to "normal", and even then, they may never again look like they did pre-injury.
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